The Bryan College Lions Softball Team swept the Buffaloes of Milligan College (Tenn.) in their doubleheader meeting during the regular-season back in the middle of March, but the Buffs were able to make adjustments and come out on top in Wednesday’s opening round matchup with the Lions on day one of the Appalachian Athletic Conference Softball Tournament. The 4-0 final was a pitching duel with Milligan holding Bryan to only two hits, while Lion’s starting pitcher, Sydney West, managed to keep the Buffaloes to nine hits.
A solid start and strong finish was all it took for Milligan to prevail.
As the top of the first inning got underway, back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt had the Buffs knocking on the door for a run with runners in scoring position at second and third. All it took was a single by Milligan’s Kacie Skeen thru the hole at shortstop to score Kimberly Robinson and Jenna Gilbert to provide the Buffs with an early 2-0 lead. The Lions responded with two on base in the bottom of the frame but couldn’t capitalize.
Through the next six innings, which five were scoreless, Bryan’s pair of hits came in the bottom of the second when Ashley Brown singled up the middle and when Aubrie Osborne brought her bat around in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff single driven to center field.
Milligan broke the silence in the top of final inning with the help of Gilbert’s leadoff single to shallow right-center. Erica Roller followed by laying down a bunt and happened to reach first when the Lions bobbled the ball on the play. Skeen continued to compile RBI’s as she singled to left and plated Gilbert from second. Rachel Coffey hit into a fielder’s choice, and it allowed Roller to take scoring position at third. The last run of the game came when Ashley Arnold had a well-executed bunt that gave Roller enough time to roll on through to home to seal a 4-0 shutout of Bryan.
Despite getting the loss, West tossed a notable game with seven innings of work, nine hits, four runs with three that were earned, three walks, and one strikeout.
The Lions have put this game behind them and are now focused on the Thursday’s contest where they will battle to stay alive with the No. 6 seed Truett McConnell University Bears (Ga.). The first pitch is slated for 1pm at the Brickyard Ball Fields in Kingsport, Tenn.
All games will be streamed online on the AAC Digital Network and can be viewed by clicking here. Cost is $7.99 per game and $19.99 for the entire tournament.